By Scout Nelson
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), in collaboration with key state agencies and organizations, announces a series of free virtual trainings aimed at equipping rural faith leaders with suicide prevention skills.
Targeting Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota, these sessions are designed for clergy and lay leaders across all faiths and denominations.
MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen highlights the critical role of faith in farm families' lives and the importance of providing community leaders with the tools to offer emotional support effectively.
"We recognize that faith is an important element in the lives of many farm families,” Petersen explains, underscoring the initiative's aim to fortify pastoral care with suicide prevention capabilities.
Scheduled over four weeks, the Suicide Prevention Skills for Rural Ministry training combines an online curriculum by LivingWorks Faith with interactive Zoom discussions.
This hybrid approach facilitates a comprehensive learning experience, enabling participants to apply suicide prevention techniques within a pastoral context.
Faith leaders will learn to identify and support individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, facilitating connections to professional help and offering comfort to affected families and communities. Glen Bloomstrom, LivingWorks Director of Faith Community Engagement, along with his team, will lead these vital training sessions.
Interested clergy and lay leaders can choose from three sessions beginning April 16, April 18, and September 17. Enrollment for the preferred cohort is required by April 5, 2024, through the MDA website at www.mda.state.mn.us/clergytraining.
Supporting partners of this program include Farm Well Wisconsin, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Minnesota Department of Health.
Funding for this initiative is provided by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, highlighting a commitment to addressing mental health needs in rural communities through education and support.
Photo Credit -minnesota-department-of-agriculture
Categories: Minnesota, Rural Lifestyle